16. The Moon and National Flags

The National Flags with an emblem of Crescent Moon and Star are generally categorized in the following countries:—

[Table 3.1 Vexillological Characteristics of national flags with Crescent Moon.]

SN	Country	Characteristics National Flags with Lunar Symbols
1	Algeria	Half green and half white with red crescent and star at the center.
2	Azerbaijan	Three equal horizontal bands of blue, red, and green with white crescent and eight-pointed star are centered in the red band.
3	Comoros	Four horizontal bands of yellow, white, red and blue with a white crescent and four stars within it.
4	Malaysia	Fourteen horizontal stripes (red and white) with yellow Crescent Star.
5	Maldives	Flag containing red background and large green rectangle at the middle with a white Crescent in the Centre.
6	Mauritania	A green background with a gold crescent and star.
7	Pakistan	Flag of predominantly green, with a vertical white band along the edge. Within the green section is a large white crescent moon and star.
8	Tunisia	A red background, with a white circle in the center. Inside the circle is a red crescent moon and a red star.
9	Turkey	A red background with a white crescent and white star.
10	Turkmenistan	A green background with a vertical red stripe along the side.
11	Uzbekistan	Flag having the features three equal horizontal bands of blue, white, and green with white crescent moon.

As per the recent Research verification, 196 Countries are using religious symbols for their national flags. Out of 64 Countries covered in this category, 50% have Christian symbols and 33% include Islamic religious symbols and the rest possess imagery. Vexillological studies denote that Islamic symbols are used on the flags of 21 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, AsiaPacific, Middle East and North Africa. Majority National flags contain Islamic Star and Crescent on their flags^[1]. The specific Icons of Crescent Moon are available in Greek numismatics representing their God or Goddess. The Goddess Athena has been usually presented with pretty bird owl and accompanied by a Crescent moon. A coin from Aenus, the head of God Hermes possesses a Goat with a Crescent Moon on reverse and God Ares showing a star on the Crescent Moon as Royal Symbol. Roman Republic covers the theme and design of early coins similar to the Greek one. Crescent Moon with two stars and one pellet inside the legend Roma, Selene in the big crescent moon above her and a faint star behind are visible. Though they are categorized under Astronomical symbols, whereas they are purely connected the deities of those countries connected with astrology, becoming the part of great civilizations. Malaysian Ringgit, Pakistanis Rupee and Turkish Lira also contain lunar symbols as a gesture of their traditional belief.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

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